Paying Tribute To a Bugatti Legend – Meo Constantini

President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. Bugatti, a brand with a rich history unique in the car industry, is celebrating its heroes. The French luxury marque will bring out an exclusive edition, “Les Légendes de Bugatti” (Bugatti Legends), to commemorate the renowned names which have played a crucial role in its history and which have helped creating its mystique. “Meo Costantini embodies the most successful era in Bugatti’s racing history,” says Dr Wolfgang Schreiber,

The series launched in August with the Vitesse “Jean-Pierre Wimille” at California’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, followed by the second legend car “Jean Bugatti” at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt. The third edition of the car pays tribute to another Bugatti legend Bartolomeo “Meo” Costantini. This car is also based on the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse.

Meo Constantini, born in 1889 worked at Bugatti for eight years from 1927 to 1935, as a race car driver and a racing manager. As a member of Bugatti team, he won the most prestigious races in its time, the Targa Florio twice, and also won Spanish and Milan Grand Prix races.

Running the Meo Constantini is its 8-liter, quad-turbo W16 engine. With its 1,184 hp, it provides a lot of torque at 1,106 lb-ft at 3,000-5,000 rpm. With this power it can go from 0-62 mph in just 2.6 seconds. Top speed tops at 233 mph, Bugatti claims with top down it is capable of going at 254 mph. These are the same peak outputs for the previous two legend cars as well.

The Vitesse Legend “Meo Constantini” body is mainly constructed of carbon fiber. The wings, doors, the parts behind doors and front bumper corners are rendered in aluminium. All aluminium parts are hand-polished and coated with clear lacquer. Developed specially for this car “Bugatti Dark Blue Sport” paint color on carbon fiber parts references France’s classic racing car blue, as well as the Bugatti Type 35 race car Constantini achieved almost all of his victories in. The Targa Florio map is painted on the underside of the rear wing and Constantini’s signature is laser engraved into the alminium tank and oil cap.